Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Overview

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is a versatile loyalty program offering exceptional value for travelers, particularly through its unique partner redemptions and extensive transfer partnerships. While not part of a traditional airline alliance until recently joining SkyTeam in 2023, Virgin Atlantic’s individual airline partnerships and flexible point transfer options make it a program worth understanding—even for travelers who rarely fly on Virgin Atlantic metal.

Program Overview

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is the loyalty program of Virgin Atlantic Airways, a UK-based airline founded by Sir Richard Branson in 1984. The airline operates primarily from its hubs at London Heathrow, London Gatwick, and Manchester airports, with flights to destinations across North America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

Key Program Features

Currency: Virgin Points (previously called Flying Club miles)
Elite status tiers: Red (basic), Silver, and Gold
Qualification metric: Tier Points
Points expiration: Virgin Points never expire
Alliance membership: SkyTeam (joined in 2023)
Major non-alliance partners: ANA, Air New Zealand, Hawaiian Airlines, Singapore Airlines
Transfer partners: American Express, Chase, Citi, Capital One, Bilt, Marriott Bonvoy, and more

Program Value

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club stands out for several reasons:

Extensive transfer partnerships with major credit card programs
Exceptional sweet spot redemptions, particularly on ANA
Points that never expire
Unique redemption opportunities through Virgin Group companies
Relatively attainable elite status with valuable benefits
Infant award tickets for as few as 1,000 points

Earning Virgin Points

Flying on Virgin Atlantic

When flying on Virgin Atlantic, you earn points based on the distance flown and the fare class purchased. The earning rates are as follows:

Cabin	Fare Classes	Earning Rate (% of miles flown)
Economy Light	–	25%
Economy Classic	–	50-150%
Economy Delight	–	150%
Premium	H, K	100%
Premium	W, S	200%
Upper Class	I, Z	200%
Upper Class	J, C, D	400%

Elite status members earn additional bonus points:

Silver members: 30% bonus
Gold members: 60% bonus

Flying on Partner Airlines

You can earn Virgin Points when flying on any SkyTeam alliance member airline as well as Virgin Atlantic’s non-alliance partners. Earning rates vary by airline, route, and fare class, but generally range from 25% to 400% of miles flown.

Key airline partners include:

SkyTeam members: Delta Air Lines, Air France, KLM, Korean Air, and more
Non-alliance partners: ANA, Air New Zealand, Hawaiian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Virgin Australia, IndiGo, LATAM, and SAS

Credit Card Spending

Virgin Atlantic offers a co-branded credit card in the US through Bank of America:

Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard:
- 3 points per $1 spent on Virgin companies (including Virgin Atlantic)
- 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- 5,000 bonus points each cardholder anniversary
- 25 Tier Points for every $2,500 in purchases (up to 50 per month)
- Companion voucher after spending $15,000 or $30,000 annually

Transferring Points from Partners

One of the greatest strengths of the Flying Club program is its extensive list of transfer partners:

Transfer Partner	Transfer Ratio	Transfer Time
American Express Membership Rewards	1:1	Instant
Bilt Rewards	1:1	1-2 days
Capital One Miles (via Virgin Red)	1:1	Instant
Chase Ultimate Rewards	1:1	Instant
Citi ThankYou Points	1:1	1-2 days
Marriott Bonvoy	3:1 (with 5,000 bonus for 60,000 points)	1-2 days
Wells Fargo Rewards	1:1	Instant
World of Hyatt	5:3 (with 7,500 bonus for 50,000 points)	1-2 days
Hilton Honors	10:1.5	1-2 days
IHG One Rewards	5:1	1-2 days

Hotel Stays and Car Rentals

Virgin Atlantic has partnerships with numerous hotel chains and booking platforms:

Virgin Hotels: 2,000 points per stay
Virgin Limited Edition: Up to 55,000 points per stay
Rocketmiles: 500-10,000 points per night
Kaligo.com: Up to 10,000 points per night
Major hotel chains: Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Hyatt, Best Western (500-2,000 points per stay)

Car rental partners include:

Avis: 250-1,000 points per rental
Hertz: Up to 1,100 points per rental
Alamo: 1,000 points per rental in the U.S. and Canada
National: 1,000-1,200 points per rental
Sixt: 500 points per rental

Other Earning Opportunities

Shopping portal: Earn 2 points per £1 spent through Virgin Atlantic’s “Retail Therapy”
Virgin Atlantic Holidays: Earn 2-4 points per £1 spent on package bookings
e-Rewards: Convert survey rewards to Virgin Points
Buying points: Purchase at $25 per 1,000 points (plus fees)

Redeeming Virgin Points

Virgin Atlantic Flights

Virgin Atlantic uses dynamic pricing for its own flights, with award costs varying based on demand, season, and availability. The program divides the year into Standard Season and Peak Season, with Standard Season awards costing significantly less.

Sample one-way award costs from the U.S. to the U.K. (Standard/Peak):

Economy: 12,500/20,000 points
Premium: 27,500/47,500 points
Upper Class: 47,500/67,500 points

The main drawback of Virgin Atlantic awards is the high fuel surcharges, which can range from $361 round-trip in economy to $919 round-trip in Upper Class. Despite these fees, redemptions can still provide good value, especially in premium cabins where you might get 5-6 cents per point in value.

Partner Airline Redemptions

Partner redemptions often offer the best value in the Flying Club program. Key partner award opportunities include:

ANA: Fixed award chart with exceptional business and first class values
Delta Air Lines: Distance-based award chart with competitive pricing on many routes
Air France/KLM: Distance-based pricing with good values on certain routes
Air New Zealand: Fixed award chart with excellent business class values
SkyTeam partners: Distance-based award chart with redemptions starting at 5,500 points one-way

Infant Awards

Virgin Atlantic offers some of the best infant award pricing in the industry. For children under two years old, you’ll pay:

1,000 points one-way in economy
2,000 points one-way in Premium
5,000 points one-way in Upper Class

These rates apply to both Virgin Atlantic flights and partner awards, making Flying Club an excellent choice for families traveling with infants.

Other Redemption Options

Hotel bookings: Redeem 20,000-40,000 points per night through Kaligo
Points transfers to hotel programs: Transfer to Hilton (2:3 ratio) or IHG (1:1 ratio)
Points Plus Money: Use points to offset the cash price of Virgin Atlantic tickets
Unique experiences: Redeem for stays at Necker Island (Richard Branson’s private island) starting at 2 million points

Elite Status Tiers and Benefits

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club has three membership tiers, each offering progressively more valuable benefits.

Tier Points and Qualification

Status is earned by accumulating Tier Points, which are separate from Virgin Points. Tier Points are earned based on the cabin and fare class flown:

Economy: 25-50 Tier Points per one-way flight
Premium: 50-100 Tier Points per one-way flight
Upper Class: 100-200 Tier Points per one-way flight

Since September 2020, award flights also earn Tier Points at 50% of the rate for cash tickets:

Economy award flights: 25 Tier Points one-way
Premium award flights: 50 Tier Points one-way
Upper Class award flights: 100 Tier Points one-way

Additionally, the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard earns 25 Tier Points for every $2,500 spent (up to 50 per month).

Status Requirements

Red: Basic membership (no requirements)
Silver: 400 Tier Points
Gold: 1,000 Tier Points

Status Benefits

Red (Basic Membership)

Earn points on every flight
Ability to use points for award flights
Dedicated Flying Club phone line
Discounted access to Flying Club lounges

Silver

All Red benefits
30% bonus points on every flight
Free seat selection ahead of flight in Economy Light
Premium check-in when flying in any cabin
Priority waitlist for flights
Tier renewal bonus
Maternity and paternity membership pause
SkyTeam Elite status when flying on SkyTeam partners

Gold

All Silver benefits
60% bonus points on every flight
Free seat selection for your entire party in Economy Light
Extra baggage allowance
Upper Class check-in when flying in any cabin
Clubhouse access for you and one guest
One complimentary Clubhouse spa treatment
Access to London Heathrow Revivals Lounge
2,000 bonus birthday points
Complimentary companion ticket upon yearly renewal of Gold tier
Additional Clubhouse passes when earning 1,500 Tier Points in a membership year
Cabin Upgrade Reward when earning 2,000 Tier Points in a membership year
Ability to gift Silver membership to a friend
SkyTeam Elite Plus status when flying on SkyTeam partners

Status Duration and Renewal

Red status is valid for 36 months of inactivity. Silver and Gold status is valid for 12-13 months and must be renewed by earning the required Tier Points during the membership period. If you don’t earn enough Tier Points to maintain your current tier, you’ll drop to the next lower tier (Gold to Silver, or Silver to Red).

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses

Virgin Atlantic operates premium lounges called Clubhouses at select airports. These lounges are known for their upscale amenities, excellent food and beverage offerings, and stylish design.

Clubhouse Locations

London Heathrow (flagship location)
Boston
Johannesburg
Los Angeles
New York-JFK
San Francisco
Washington Dulles

Access Rules

The following passengers can access Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses:

Upper Class passengers on Virgin Atlantic flights
Flying Club Gold members flying on any Virgin Atlantic flight
Delta SkyMiles Diamond, Platinum, and Gold Medallion members flying on Virgin Atlantic-operated flights
SkyTeam Elite Plus members traveling on Virgin Atlantic, Delta, or Aeromexico from London Heathrow

At airports without a Clubhouse, eligible passengers can access partner lounges based on their status and cabin class.

Program Sweet Spots

ANA Business and First Class

The most celebrated sweet spot in the Flying Club program is ANA business and first class awards between Japan and North America:

Japan – Hawaii: 35,000 points one-way in business class, 57,500 points in first class
Japan – Western U.S.: 45,000 points one-way in business class, 72,500 points in first class
Japan – Central/Eastern U.S.: 47,500 points one-way in business class, 85,000 points in first class

These rates are significantly lower than what other programs charge. For comparison, United MileagePlus charges 110,000 miles for a one-way business class award on the same routes.

Delta One to Europe

Flying Club offers excellent value on nonstop Delta One business class flights between the U.S. and Europe:

U.S. to Europe (nonstop): 50,000 Virgin Points one-way in Delta One
U.S. to Europe (nonstop): 30,000 Virgin Points one-way in economy

Delta often charges 120,000+ SkyMiles for the same Delta One flights, making this a tremendous value when you can find availability.

Air New Zealand Business Class

Flying Club offers exceptionally low rates on Air New Zealand flights:

Hawaii – New Zealand: 60,000 points round-trip in economy, 90,000 points in business class
Los Angeles – New Zealand: 60,000 points round-trip in economy, 90,000 points in business class

The challenge is finding award availability, as Air New Zealand is notoriously stingy with partner award space, especially in business class.

Domestic Delta Flights

For short domestic flights on Delta, Flying Club can offer excellent value:

Flights under 500 miles: 7,500 points one-way in economy
Flights 501-1,000 miles: 8,500 points one-way in economy

These rates can be significantly lower than what Delta charges for the same flights using SkyMiles, especially during peak travel periods.

Infant Award Tickets

As mentioned earlier, Flying Club offers exceptional value for infant awards (under 2 years old):

Economy: 1,000 points one-way
Premium: 2,000 points one-way
Upper Class/Business/First: 5,000 points one-way

This applies to both Virgin Atlantic flights and partner awards, making it an excellent option for families traveling with infants.

Redemptions to Avoid

Points Plus Money

Virgin Atlantic’s Points Plus Money option allows you to use points to offset the cash price of tickets. However, this typically provides poor value at around 0.68 cents per point—well below the average value of 1.4 cents per point for Flying Club redemptions.

High-Surcharge Virgin Atlantic Awards

While Virgin Atlantic’s own flights can offer good value in terms of points required, the high fuel surcharges (especially in Upper Class) can significantly reduce the overall value. For example, a round-trip Upper Class award between the U.S. and UK requires around $919 in surcharges and taxes.

Most Hotel Point Transfers

Converting Virgin Points to hotel points generally provides poor value:

Hilton Honors: 2 Virgin Points = 3 Hilton points (minimum 10,000 Virgin Points)
IHG One Rewards: 1 Virgin Point = 1 IHG point (minimum 10,000 Virgin Points)

These conversions typically yield less than 1 cent per point in value and should only be considered if you need to top up a hotel account for a specific redemption.

Most SkyTeam Partner Awards

While there are some sweet spots, most redemptions on SkyTeam partners using Virgin Atlantic’s distance-based award chart don’t offer exceptional value. The award chart is designed to prevent outsized value, so these redemptions typically yield average or below-average value.

Posts related to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points expire?

No, Virgin Points (formerly Flying Club miles) never expire, regardless of account activity. This policy change was implemented in 2016, making Virgin Atlantic one of the few airline programs where points don’t expire due to inactivity.

While your points won’t expire, your elite status tier can expire. Red status is valid for 36 months of inactivity, while Silver and Gold status must be renewed every 12-13 months by earning the required number of Tier Points during your membership year.

What’s the difference between Virgin Points and Tier Points?

Virgin Atlantic’s loyalty program uses two separate currencies that serve different purposes:

Virgin Points:
• The program’s reward currency that you can redeem for flights, upgrades, and other benefits
• Earned based on distance flown and fare class
• Never expire
• Can be transferred from credit card programs like Amex, Chase, and Citi
• Used to be called “Flying Club miles” before rebranding

Tier Points:
• Used solely to determine your elite status level (Red, Silver, or Gold)
• Earned based on cabin class and fare type when flying Virgin Atlantic or partners
• Reset at the end of your membership year
• Cannot be redeemed for anything
• Can also be earned through credit card spending (25 Tier Points per $2,500 spent on the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard)

Think of Virgin Points as the currency you spend, while Tier Points measure your loyalty to determine your status and associated benefits.

What are the best ways to use Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points?

The most valuable ways to use Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points include:

1. ANA business and first class awards:
• Japan to Hawaii: 35,000/57,500 points one-way in business/first
• Japan to Western US: 45,000/72,500 points one-way in business/first
• Japan to Eastern US: 47,500/85,000 points one-way in business/first

These rates are 50-60% lower than what most other programs charge, making this one of the best sweet spots in the entire points and miles world.

2. Delta One to Europe:
• 50,000 points one-way for nonstop Delta One business class between the US and Europe
• Often less than half what Delta charges for the same flights

3. Short-haul Delta domestic flights:
• 7,500 points for flights under 500 miles
• 8,500 points for flights between 501-1,000 miles

4. Air New Zealand business class:
• 90,000 points round-trip between Los Angeles and New Zealand
• Availability is extremely limited but offers exceptional value when found

5. Infant award tickets:
• Just 1,000 points one-way in economy, 5,000 in business/first class
• Applies to both Virgin Atlantic and partner airlines

How do I earn Virgin Atlantic elite status?

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club elite status is earned by accumulating Tier Points within a membership year:

Status requirements:
• Red (basic membership): No requirements
• Silver: 400 Tier Points
• Gold: 1,000 Tier Points

Ways to earn Tier Points:

1. Flying Virgin Atlantic or partners:
• Economy: 25-50 Tier Points per one-way flight
• Premium: 50-100 Tier Points per one-way flight
• Upper Class: 100-200 Tier Points per one-way flight

2. Award flights: Since September 2020, award flights earn Tier Points at 50% of the rate for paid tickets:
• Economy award flights: 25 Tier Points one-way
• Premium award flights: 50 Tier Points one-way
• Upper Class award flights: 100 Tier Points one-way

3. Credit card spending:
• Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard: 25 Tier Points for every $2,500 spent (up to 50 per month)
• This means you can earn up to 600 Tier Points annually through credit card spending alone

Membership year: Your Tier Points reset at the end of your membership year, which is typically 12-13 months from when you joined or last qualified for a status tier.

How do I book ANA flights with Virgin Atlantic points?

Booking ANA flights with Virgin Atlantic points requires a few specific steps:

1. Find availability:
• ANA award space cannot be searched on Virgin Atlantic’s website
• Use United.com, Air Canada Aeroplan, or ANA’s own website to search for award space
• Look for flights showing as available at the Saver level on United or the standard award level on ANA

2. Note the flight details:
• Write down the exact flight numbers, dates, and times
• Confirm that the space is available in the cabin you want (economy, business, or first)

3. Call Virgin Atlantic:
• US number: 1-800-365-9500
• UK number: 0344-874-7747
• Have your Flying Club number ready
• Provide the agent with the flight details you found

4. Complete the booking:
• The agent will confirm availability and quote the points price and taxes/fees
• Taxes/fees are typically reasonable (around $200-300 round-trip)
• You can place the award on hold for 24-48 hours if needed

Important tips:
• Book round-trip if possible (Virgin Atlantic doesn’t always allow one-way ANA bookings)
• Availability is generally better 6-11 months in advance
• Mixed-cabin awards are possible but priced at the higher cabin rate
• You cannot include connections on other airlines (must be ANA-operated flights only)
• Stopovers and open-jaws are not permitted

What credit cards transfer to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club?

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club has one of the most extensive networks of transfer partners among airline programs, making it easy to accumulate points from various sources:

Major U.S. bank programs (1:1 ratio):
• American Express Membership Rewards
• Chase Ultimate Rewards
• Citi ThankYou Points
• Capital One Miles (via Virgin Red)
• Bilt Rewards
• Wells Fargo Rewards

Hotel programs:
• Marriott Bonvoy: 3:1 ratio (plus 5,000 bonus points when transferring 60,000 Marriott points)
• World of Hyatt: 5:3 ratio (plus 7,500 bonus points when transferring 50,000 Hyatt points)
• Hilton Honors: 10:1.5 ratio
• IHG One Rewards: 5:1 ratio

Co-branded credit card:
• Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard (Bank of America): Earns 3x points on Virgin purchases, 1x on everything else

These transfer partnerships make Virgin Atlantic points among the easiest airline currencies to accumulate, even if you rarely fly on Virgin Atlantic itself. Transfer times are generally quick, with most major bank transfers processing instantly or within 1-2 days.